Image forming system and image forming method

ABSTRACT

A server for controlling an image forming system according to an embodiment includes an interface that receives, from a user device, document data and instructions to print the document data. A storage section stores the document data. A controller determines a printing mode of the document data based on property information included in the document data. The controller selects for printing the document data, only one of a non-erasable image forming apparatus and an erasable image forming apparatus based on the determined printing mode. The controller controls a display device to display a screen for selecting an erasable printing mode designation if the printing mode is determined to be a non-erasable printing mode.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.14/978,621, filed on Dec. 22, 2015, which is a continuation of U.S.patent application Ser. No. 14/045,588, filed on Oct. 3, 2013, now U.S.Pat. No. 9,250,837, issued on Feb. 2, 2016, the entire contents of eachof which are incorporated herein by reference.

FIELD

Embodiments described herein relate generally to an image forming systemand an image forming method in which a non-erasable printer and anerasable printer are connected by a network.

BACKGROUND

There is an image forming system in which a non-erasable printer and anerasable printer are connected to a network. In the image forming systemin which the non-erasable printer and the erasable printer areconnected, a method is known in which the user selects any one of thenon-erasable printer or the erasable printer when each print job isgenerated.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates an image forming system, according to a firstembodiment.

FIG. 2 illustrates a printer, according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 3 illustrates a hardware configuration of the image forming system,according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 4 illustrates storage contents of a printing policy storage sectionin the first printing policy, according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 5 illustrates a printer driver screen on a PC, according to thefirst embodiment.

FIG. 6 illustrates an enforced Eco print message from a server,according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a flow chart illustrating a printing process in the firstprinting policy, according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 8 illustrates storage contents of a printing policy storage sectionin the second printing policy, according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a flow chart illustrating a printing process in the secondprinting policy, according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 10 illustrates an example printing policy, according to a secondembodiment.

FIG. 11 illustrates an example document registration screen on a PC,according to the second embodiment.

FIG. 12 illustrates an example document registration list, according tothe second embodiment.

FIG. 13 illustrates an example number assignment message, according tothe second embodiment.

FIG. 14 is a flowchart illustrating a document registration process,according to the second embodiment.

FIG. 15 illustrates a printer driver screen on a PC, according to thesecond embodiment.

FIG. 16 is a flow chart illustrating a printing process of print datawhich is registered, according to the second embodiment.

FIG. 17 is a flow chart illustrating a printing process of printing datawhich is not registered, according to the second embodiment.

FIG. 18 illustrates printing policy items, according to a thirdembodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

An image forming system according to an embodiment comprises a datacreation section configured to create document data, and a printinstruction section configured to send instructions to print thedocument data. The image forming section further comprises a printingmode determination section configured to determine a printing mode ofthe document data based on property information of the document data,and a selection section configured to select for printing the documentdata with one of a non-erasable image forming section and an erasableimage forming section based on the determined printing mode.

Hereafter, the embodiments will be described.

First Embodiment

An image printing system according to a first embodiment will bedescribed with reference to FIG. 1 through FIG. 9. FIG. 1 illustratesthe image forming system. 10, according to the first embodiment. Theimage forming system 10 connects, for example, a PC (personal computer)2, a non-erasable MFP (Multi-Function-Peripheral) 3 which is anon-erasable image forming section, an erasable MFP 4 which is anerasable image forming section, and a server 6, each connected via a LAN(Local Area Network) 7. The PC 2 acts as a data creation section and aprinting instruction section. The server 6 acts as a printing modedetermination section configured to determine the printing mode in theimage forming system 10 and as a selection section configured to selectthe non-erasable MFP 3 or the erasable MFP 4. The printing mode is anon-erasable mode in which a non-erasable coloring material is used or aerasable mode in which an erasable coloring material is used.

The PC 2, the non-erasable MFP 3, the erasable MFP 4 and the server 6and the like are connected to the LAN 7 and have a communicationfunction to perform a data communication respectively. The communicationfunction may be realized by a cloud network. The number or the types ofthe PC 2, the non-erasable MFP 3, the erasable MFP 4 and the server 6are not limited. The LAN (Local Area Network 7) may be realized by wiredor wireless communications.

The PC 2 includes application software that creates document data. Theapplication software is, for example, PPT (Power Point®), XLS (Excel®),txt (Text editor) and the like. The PC 2 includes a printer driver toprint the document data using the non-erasable MFP 3 or the erasable MFP4. For the data creation section or the printing instruction section, auser terminal such as a smart phone or a mobile terminal may be used,and is not limited to the PC. The server 6 administers a print jobinstructed by the PC 2, for example.

The non-erasable MFP 3 is capable of printing the print data created bythe PC 2 in the non-erasable mode using the non-erasable coloringmaterial, for example. The printed image on the sheet printed by thenon-erasable MFP 3 does not fade out by heating, for example. In case ofprinting by the non-erasable MFP 3, the sheet cannot be reused.

The erasable MFP 4 is capable of printing the print data created by thePC 2 in the erasable mode, using the erasable coloring material, forexample. The printed image on the sheet printed by the erasable MFP 4fades out by heating, for example. In case of printing by the erasableMFP 4, the printed image can be erased by heating the sheet after theprinting. The sheet in which the printed image is erased can be reused.

Each of printers 3 a and 4 a of the non-erasable MFP 3 and the erasableMFP 4 will be described. The configurations of the printers 3 a and 4 aof the non-erasable MFP 3 and the erasable MFP 4 are similar, exceptthat the coloring materials of the developer thereof used for imageforming are different. Accordingly, the printers 3 a and 4 a will bedescribed using the common reference numerals with reference to FIG. 2.

Each of the printers 3 a or 4 a of the non-erasable MFP 3 or theerasable MFP 4, prints by an electro-photographic system. The printers 3a and 4 a, for example, include an image forming station 11, a sheetfeeder 13, a sheet discharging unit 22, a transportation unit 23 and afixing device 24.

The image forming station 11 includes a charger 16, an exposure scanninghead 17, a developing device 18, a transfer device 20, and a cleaner 21around the photosensitive drum 14 rotating in arrow m direction. Thecharger 16 charges the photosensitive drum 14. The exposure scanninghead 17 irradiates exposure light to the photosensitive drum 14 based onthe print data to form an electrostatic latent image on thephotosensitive drum 14.

The developing device 18 supplies toner to the electrostatic latentimage on the photosensitive drum 14. In the non-erasable MFP 3, thedeveloping device 18 supplies non-erasable toner to the electrostaticlatent image on the photosensitive drum 14 using non-erasabletwo-component developer which is a mixture of non-erasable toner whichdoes not fade out by heating, and a magnetic carrier. In the erasableMFP 4, the developing device 18 supplies erasable toner to theelectrostatic latent image on the photosensitive drum 14 using erasabletwo-component developer which is a mixture of erasable toner (which iserased by heating), and the magnetic carrier.

The erasable toner, for example, contains colorant, color compound andcolor developer in the binder resin. When the erasable toner is heatedup to a temperature equal to or higher than the erasing temperature, thecolor compound and the color developer are dissociated, and the erasabletoner is erased. For example, the erasable toner can be fixed on thesheet at comparatively low temperature and erased at a temperaturehigher than the fixing temperature by approximately 10° C. When a fixedtoner image formed using the erasable toner is heated up to thetemperature higher than the fading temperature, the color compound andthe color developer in the erasable toner are dissociated and the tonerimage is erased.

The transfer device 20 transfers the non-erasable toner image or theerasable toner image formed on the photosensitive drum 14 to the sheetP.

The sheet feeder 13 includes a sheet feeding cassette 13 a and a sheetfeeding roller 15, and feeds the sheet P in the direction to imageforming station 11. The sheet feeding cassette 13 a stores the sheet P.The sheet P may be any one of an unused sheet or a reused sheet, i.e.,the sheet on which the color has been erased by the erasing process.

The transportation unit 23 includes a transportation roller 23 a, aregistration roller 23 b and a sheet discharge roller 23 c. Thetransportation unit 23 transports the sheet P from the sheet feeder 13to the sheet discharge unit 22 via the image forming station 11.

The fixing device 24 fixes the toner image formed on the sheet P in theimage forming station 11. The non-erasable MFP 3 or the erasable MFP 4sets the fixing temperature of the fixing device 24 according tocharacteristics of each of the toners. For example, in the erasable MFP4, the fixing temperature of the fixing device 24 is set to be lowerthan the erasing temperature of the erasable toner.

The printers 3 a and 4 a are not limited by the above description andmay be a color printer and an inkjet type printer.

A hardware configuration of the image forming system 10 will bedescribed with reference to the block diagram illustrated in FIG. 3.

The PC 2 includes, for example, a control unit 51, a storage unit 52that includes an accumulation section 52 a and a document registrationsection 52 b, a display unit 53, an input unit 54 and a networkinterface (I/F) 56. The control unit 51 controls the entire PC 2. Thecontrol unit 51 executes programs stored in the accumulation section 52a and the document registration section 52 b to realize variousprocessing functions.

The accumulation section 52 a stores a control program and control datathat administer a basic operation of the PC 2, as well as applicationsoftware and a printer driver for a document creation and a tablecalculation and the like. The document registration section 52 b storesa document registration application that registers the created documentdata to the server 6. The display unit 53 displays, for example, printdata created by the user, operational screens for various applications,various information for the user, and the like. The input unit 54accepts input of the user's operations and instructions. The network I/F56 performs data communications with the external devices connected tothe LAN 7.

The non-erasable MFP 3 includes, for example, a control unit 31, astorage unit 32, a control panel 33, a printer 3 a that prints using thenon-erasable coloring material, a scanner 34 and a network I/F 36. Thecontrol unit 31 controls the entire non-erasable MFP 3. The control unit31 executes the program stored in the storage unit 32 to realize variousprocesses to print.

The storage unit 32 stores, for example, a control program for thenon-erasable MFP 3 and print data for the non-erasable printing. Thestorage unit 32 includes a storage region that expands and processes theprint data. The control panel 33 receives input from the user, anddisplays information to the user. The control panel 33 includes, forexample, various operation buttons that accept input of operations bythe user and a display section with a built-in touch panel whichdisplays information to the user and receives input from the user.

The scanner 34 reads a document image to perform the non-erasableprinting. The network I/F 36 performs data communication with theexternal devices connected to the LAN 7.

The erasable MFP 4 includes, for example, a control unit 41, a storageunit 42, a control panel 43, a printer 4 a that prints using theerasable coloring material, a scanner 44 and a network I/F 46. Thecontrol unit 41 controls the entire erasable MFP 4. The control unit 41executes the program stored in the storage unit 42 to realize variousprocesses to print.

The storage unit 42 stores, for example, a control program for theerasable MFP 4 and print data for the erasable printing. The storageunit 42 includes a storage region that expands and processes the printdata. The control panel 43 receives input from the user, and displaysinformation to the user. The control panel 43 includes, for example,various operation buttons that accept input of operations by the userand a touch panel embedded display section which displays information tothe user and receives input from the user.

The scanner 44 reads a document image to perform the erasable printing.The network I/F 46 performs data communication with the external devicesconnected to the LAN 7.

The server 6 includes, for example, a control unit 61, a storage unit62, a display unit 63, an input unit 64 and a network I/F 66. Thecontrol unit 61 controls the entire server 6. The control unit 61performs the overall administration of the image forming system 10 basedon various data stored in the storage unit 62.

The storage unit 62 includes, for example, a document storage section 62a to save document data, a table storage section 62 b acting as aproperty registration section and configured to save a table of propertyinformation of the document data, and a printing policy storage section62 c to save a printing policy which is a determination condition. Thedocument storage section 62 a may store the document data having theprint data and the property information. Alternately, the documentstorage section 62 a may store only the print data linked to theproperty information stored in the table storage section 62 b.

The document storage section 62 a or the table storage section 62 bsaves the document data or the property information respectively, whenthe PC 2 instructs the document registration, for example. The documentstorage section 62 a or the table storage section 62 b is updated, forexample when the PC 2 instructs the document registration each time thePC 2 transmits the document data. The printing policy storage section 62c stores the printing policy set by an administrator who administratesthe image forming system 10. The printing policy storage section 62 c isrewritten according to the policy of the administrator.

The display unit 63 displays, for example, various information to theadministrator of the image forming system 10. The input unit 64 acceptsinput of the administrator's operations and instructions. The networkI/F 66 performs data communication with the external devices connectedto the LAN 7.

The configuration of the server is not limited to the above description.The document data may be stored by providing a large-capacity memory fordata storage such as a HDD. By providing a plurality of servers, dataadministration and system administration may be realized by otherservers.

The image forming system 10, for example, sets a first printing policyas follows: “If the print data is neither a PPT file nor an XLS file,print all the documents with the erasable MFP 4”. The first printingpolicy of the image forming system 10 is set by the administrator inadvance. As illustrated in FIG. 4, the administrator saves the PPT fileand the XLS (Excel) file as a prohibited file application name to theprinting policy storage section 62 c as the first printing policy.

For example, if the print data formed in the PC 2 is a PPT file or anXLS file, the server 6 controls such that the print data is printed bythe non-erasable MFP 3. Likewise, if the print data formed in the PC 2is other than a PPT file or an XLS file, the server 6 controls such thatthe print data is printed by the erasable MFP 4.

The printing process by the image forming system 10 that includes thefirst printing policy will be described with reference to FIG. 5 throughFIG. 7. The image forming system 10 performs the printing processaccording to the printing policy of the server 6.

For example, the user who requests to print creates the print data usingthe predetermined application software on the PC 2 and instructs theserver 6 to print, through a printer driver screen 70 illustrated inFIG. 5.

The printer driver screen 70 displays a property information 71 of thecreated print data. For example, the property information 71 includes adocument number 71 a, a document name 71 b, a registration date 71 c, afile application name 71 d and a file size 71 e. The printer driverscreen 70 includes a “CANCEL” button 72 a, a “PRINT” button 72 b, and acheck box 73 for Eco print designation, which acts as an enforcingsection. If the user presses the “PRINT” button 72 b, the server 6starts the printing process according to the printing policy of theimage forming system 10.

In a case of the enforced Eco printing by the user's checking of thecheck box 73, the server 6 confirms from the user whether or not toperform the enforced Eco printing. When the user's checking of the checkbox 73 is different from the printing policy of the image forming system10, the server 6 determines the printing as the enforced Eco printing.When the enforced Eco printing is determined, the server 6 transmits anenforced Eco print message 74 to the PC 2, as illustrated in FIG. 6.

For example, when the document data is to be printed by the non-erasableMFP 3 according to the printing policy of the image forming system 10,when the check box 73 is checked by the user, the server 6 transmits theenforced Eco print message 74 to the PC 2. The user presses “No” button76 when the user agrees with the printing policy of the image formingsystem 10, in order to instruct the printing by the non-erasable MFP 3.The user presses “YES” button 77 when the user does not agree withprinting policy of the image forming system 10, in order to instruct theprinting by the erasable MFP 4.

The printing process is illustrated in the flow chart in FIG. 7. Theuser starts the printing process by pressing the “PRINT” button 72 b onthe printer driver screen 70 of the PC 2. The use also presses the “NO”button 76 or the “YES” button 77 of the enforced Eco print message 74.By starting the printing process, the control unit 61 of the server 6receives the print data from the PC 2 (ACT101).

In ACT102, the control unit 61 of the server 6 determines whether thefile application of the received print data is one of the prohibitedfile applications stored in the printing policy storage section 62 c.For example, if the print data is a PPT file or an XLS file (Yes inACT102), the control unit 61 of the server 6 proceeds to ACT 103. Whenthe check box 73 is not checked so that the Eco is not designated (No inACT103), the control unit 61 of the server 6 transmits the print data tothe non-erasable MFP 3 (ACT104). The non-erasable MFP 3 prints the printdata received from the server 6 on the sheet P in the non-erasable modein which the non-erasable toner is used.

In ACT102, when the file application of the received print data is otherthan the prohibited file application stored in the printing policystorage section 62 c (No in ACT102), the control unit 61 of the server 6proceeds to ACT 106. In ACT 106, the control unit 61 of the server 6transmits the print data to the erasable MFP 4. The server 6 performsthe printing by the erasable MFP 4 according to the printing policy setby the administrator. The erasable MFP 4 prints the print data receivedfrom the server 6 on the sheet P in the erasable mode in which theerasable toner is used.

In the printer driver screen 70, when the check box 73 is checked sothat the Eco is designated (Yes in ACT103), the control unit 61 of theserver 6 transmits the enforced Eco print message 74 to the PC 2(ACT107), and proceeds to ACT108. In the PC 2, when the “NO” button 76of the enforced Eco print message 74 is pressed (No in ACT108), thecontrol unit 61 of the server 6 proceeds to ACT 104. The non-erasableMFP 3 prints the print data on the sheet P in the non-erasable mode inwhich the non-erasable toner is used.

When the “YES” button 77 of the enforced Eco print message 74 is pressed(Yes in ACT108), the control unit 61 of the server 6 proceeds to ACT106. The control unit 61 of the server 6 performs the printing by theerasable MFP 4 regardless of the printing policy set by theadministrator. The erasable MFP 4 prints the print data on the sheet Pusing the erasable toner.

The administrator of the image forming system 10 can change the printingpolicy of the image forming system 10. For example, in order to changethe printing policy, the administrator rewrites the stored contents inthe printing policy storage section 62 c. For example, the administratormay store confidentiality keywords instead of the prohibited fileapplication name in the printing policy storage section 62 c. Forexample, as illustrated in FIG. 8, the administrator saves “secret”,“confidential”, “internal use only” and “duplication prohibited” asconfidentiality keywords in the printing policy storage section 62 c inadvance.

The image forming system 10 sets a second printing policy saying that,for example, “If the print data does not include the confidentialitykeyword, then print all the document data by the erasable MFP 4”.

If the image forming system 10 includes the second printing policy, whenthe print data formed in the PC 2 includes the confidentiality keyword,the server 6 controls so as to print the print data by the non-erasableMFP 3, for example. If the print data formed in the PC 2 does notinclude the confidentiality keyword, for example, the server 6 controlsso as to print the print data by the erasable MFP 4.

The printing process by the image forming system 10 which includes thesecond printing policy is illustrated in the flow chart in FIG. 9. Thecontrol unit 61 of the server 6 receives the print data from the PC 2similar to the case of the first printing policy (ACT111).

The control unit 61 of the server 6 determines whether the receivedprint data includes one of the confidentiality keywords stored in theprinting policy storage section 62 c in ACT112. When the print dataincludes one of the confidentiality keywords (Yes in ACT112), thecontrol unit 61 of the server 6 proceeds to ACT113. When the check box73 is not checked (No in ACT113), the control unit 61 of the server 6transmits the print data to the non-erasable MFP 3 (ACT114). Thenon-erasable MFP 3 prints the print data received from the server 6 onthe sheet P using the non-erasable toner.

In ACT112, when the received print data does not include one of theconfidentiality keywords (No in ACT112), the control unit 61 of theserver 6 proceeds to ACT116. In ACT116, the control unit 61 of theserver 6 transmits the print data to the erasable MFP 4. The erasableMFP 4 prints the print data received from the server 6 on the sheet Pusing the erasable toner.

In the printer driver screen 70, when the check box 73 is checked (Yesin ACT113), the control unit 61 of the server 6 transmits the enforcedEco print message 74 to the PC 2 (ACT117), and proceeds to ACT118. Inthe PC 2, when the “NO” button 76 of the enforced Eco print message 74is pressed (No in ACT118), the control unit 61 of the server 6 proceedsto ACT 114. The non-erasable MFP 3 prints the print data on the sheet Pusing the non-erasable toner.

In the PC 2, when the “YES” button 77 of the enforced Eco print message74 is pressed (Yes in ACT118), the control unit 61 of the server 6proceeds to ACT 116. The control unit 61 of the server 6 performs theprinting by the erasable MFP 4 regardless of the printing policy set bythe administrator. The erasable MFP 4 prints the print data on the sheetP using the erasable toner.

According to the first embodiment, the administrator stores the printingpolicy in the printing policy storage section 62 c of the server 6 toset the printing policy of the image forming system 10. When the usertransmits the print data to the server 6, the server 6 selects eitherthe non-erasable MFP 3 or the erasable MFP 4 according to the printingpolicy of the image forming system 10 and according to the userselection from the enforced Eco print message 74. The non-erasable MFP 3or the erasable MFP 4 prints the print data received from the server 6.

According to the first embodiment, when the user instructs the printing,the user does not need to select either the non-erasable MFP 3 or theerasable MFP 4. The print data is automatically printed by thenon-erasable MFP 3 or the erasable MFP 4 according to the printingpolicy of the image forming system 10. The printing policy of the imageforming system 10 can be easily changed by the administrator of theimage forming system 10 by only rewriting the printing policy stored inthe printing policy storage section 62 c.

According to the first embodiment, the image forming system 10 does notrely on the determination of the user in setting the printing mode ofthe print data required to be printed. The determination of the printingmode is performed according to the printing policy to be set in theserver 6. The printing in the erasable mode can be automaticallypromoted according to the printing policy which is set in the server 6by the administrator. By promoting the printing in the erasable modeaccording to the printing policy which is set in the server 6 by theadministrator, the percentage of reusing the sheets P can be increased.Therefore, it is possible to save the consumables and to contribute toenvironmental preservation. The printing policy can be easily changed bychanging the setting of the printing policy by the administrator of theimage forming system 10. Therefore, the saving of the consumables andthe environmental preservation can be obtained, according to therequirements of the administrator.

Second Embodiment

An image forming system according to a second embodiment will bedescribed with reference to FIG. 10 to FIG. 17. The image forming systemin the second embodiment further includes a document registrationfunction in addition to the features described above with respect to thefirst embodiment. In the second embodiment, the configuration similar tothat described in the first embodiment will be referenced by the similarreference numerals and detailed descriptions will not be repeated.

The server 6 performs an administration of the image forming system 10.The administration includes registering a document to the documentstorage section 62 a and the table storage section 62 b. For example,when the PC 2 instructs the document registration by the documentregistration application, the server 6 saves the document data in thedocument storage section 62 a and creates a list that includes theproperty information of the document data. The list is stored in thetable storage section 62 b. The document storage section 62 a and thetable storage section 62 b, for example, are updated whenever the PC isinstructed to perform the document registration by the documentregistration application.

The administrator of the image forming system 10 saves the printingpolicy in the printing policy storage section 62 c of the server 6. Theprinting policy saves the prohibited items to be compared with thedocument registration list which is registered in the table storagesection 62 b. The administrator, for example, saves printing policyitems 80 illustrated in FIG. 10 in the printing policy storage section62 c.

The printing policy items 80 includes a document distributiondestination 80 a, a document type 80 b, a frequency of confidentialitykeywords 80 c and a file application 80 d as the prohibition items. Forexample, he list of confidentiality keyword—from which the frequency ofconfidentiality keywords 80 c is determined—are “secret”,“confidential”, “internal use only” and “duplication prohibited” asillustrated in FIG. 8.

As an example, the printing policy items 80 may include any one of thefollowing:

-   -   the document distribution destination 80 a is “external”;    -   the document type 80 b is “materials for management conference”,        “design materials”, “sales data” or “personal information”;    -   the frequency of confidentiality keywords 80 c is “a page having        two/page or more is present”; or    -   the file application 80 d is “PPT”,        If the server 6 determines that the document information        includes one of the printing policy items 80 (i.e., one of items        80 a through 80 d), the server 6 administrates the image forming        system 10 so as to print the print data by the non-erasable MFP        3.

The printing policy items 80 in the printing policy storage section 62 ccan be rewritten according to the policy of the administrator.

The document registration process of the image forming system 10 by theserver 6 will be described with reference to FIG. 11 to FIG. 14. Forexample, when the document registration is required after the print datais created, the user instructs the server 6 by the PC 2 to perform thedocument registration through the document registration screen 90 of thedocument registration application illustrated in FIG. 11.

The document registration screen 90, for example, includes registrationitems of the created print data such as a document name input field 91,a document distribution destination selection field 92, a document typeselection field 93, a “CANCEL” button 94 a and a “REGISTER” button 94 b.When the user fills in the document name and selects the documentdistribution destination and the document type and presses the“REGISTER” button 94 b, the server 6 saves the document data in thedocument storage section 62 a, and saves the property information of thedocument data in the table storage section 62 b.

The server 6 assigns the numbering of the document data required fordocument registration and sequentially saves the property information ina “document registration list” 95 of the table storage section 62 billustrated in FIG. 12. The “document registration list” 95 includes anumber assignment 96, the property information 97 and the print record98. The property information 97 includes a document name 97 a, a fileapplication 97 b, a document distribution destination 97 c, a documenttype 97 d, number of pages 97 e, registrant code 97 f and a frequency ofconfidentiality keywords (average/page). When the registered documentdata is printed, the print record 98, for example, records a user code,print date and the print mode (the non-erasable mode or the erasablemode) as print history information. The print record 98 may beadministered as log-in information, separate from the propertyinformation 97. When the document is registered, the server 6 transmitsa number assignment message to the PC 2 and the number assignmentmessage screen 120 illustrated in FIG. 13 is displayed on the displayunit 53 of the PC 2.

The document registration process is illustrated in a flow chart in FIG.14. The user fills in the document name on the document registrationscreen 90 of the PC 2, and requests the document registration processfrom the server 6 by pressing the “REGISTER” button 94 b after selectingthe document distribution destination and the document type. Based onthe request for the document registration process from the PC 2, thecontrol unit 61 of the server 6 receives the document data from the PC 2(ACT121), and acquires the property information 97. The control unit 61of the server 6 saves the document data in the document storage section62 a (ACT123). When the document data is saved (Yes in ACT124), thecontrol unit 61 of the server 6 performs the number assignment for thesaved document data and registers the property information in the“document registration list” 95 (ACT126). The control unit 61 of theserver 6 informs the PC 2 of the number assignment of the registereddocument data (ACT127).

The printing process of the document data registered in the server 6will be described with reference to FIG. 15 and FIG. 16. The userrequests printing of the document data and instructs the server 6 toprint, through the printer driver screen 130 illustrated in FIG. 15.

The printer driver screen 130, for example, displays a registereddocument summary 131 of the registered document data. The registereddocument summary 131 includes a document number 131 a, a document name131 b, a registration date 131 c, a file type 131 d and a file size 131e. The printer driver screen 130 includes a “CANCEL” button 132 a, a“PRINT” button 132 b, and a check box for the Eco print designation 133.

The printing process of the registered print data is illustrated in aflow chart in FIG. 16. When the user requests the document registrationlist to the server 6 through the list request screen (not illustrated)of the PC 2, the control unit 61 of the server 6 transmits theregistered document summary 131 to the PC 2 (ACT140). The PC 2 receivesthe transmission of the registered document summary 131 from the server6, and displays the printer driver screen 130 illustrated in FIG. 15.When the user selects one of the registered documents to be printedthrough the printer driver screen 130 and presses the “PRINT” button 132b, the control unit 61 of the server 6 receives the print instructionfrom the PC 2 (ACT141), and starts the printing process according to theprinting policy.

In case of the enforced Eco printing, i.e., when the user has checkedthe check box 133, the server 6 confirms from the user whether or not toperform the enforced Eco printing. The confirmation is performed usingthe enforced Eco print message 74 illustrated in FIG. 6, similar to thecase described above with respect to the first embodiment.

The control unit 61 of the server 6 reads out the property information97 of the document number which is instructed to be printed from the“document registration list” 95 (ACT142), and determines whether or notthe one or more of the items in the property information 97 correspondsto the printing policy items 80 in FIG. 10 stored in the printing policystorage section 62 c. Specifically, the control unit 61 of the server 6proceeds to ACT148 when the distribution destination is “external” (Yesin ACT144). When the distribution destination is internal (No inACT144), the control unit 61 of the server 6 determines whether or notthe document type is included in the printing policy items 80 in ACT145.If the document type is included in the printing policy (Yes in ACT145),the control unit 61 of the server 6 proceeds to ACT148.

If the document type is not included in the printing policy items 80 (Noin ACT145), the control unit 61 of the server 6 determines whether ornot the frequency of the confidentiality keywords corresponds to theprinting policy items 80 in ACT146. If the frequency of theconfidentiality keywords corresponds to the printing policy items 80(Yes in ACT146), the control unit 61 of the server 6 proceeds to ACT148.

If the frequency of the confidentiality keywords does not correspond tothe printing policy items 80 (No in ACT146), the control unit 61 of theserver 6 determines whether the file application is “PPT” or not inACT147. If the file application is “PPT” (Yes in ACT147), the controlunit 61 of the server 6 proceeds to ACT148.

In ACT148, if check box 133 is not checked (No in ACT148), control unit61 of the server 6 transmits the print data to the non-erasable MFP 3(ACT150). The non-erasable MFP 3 prints the print data received from theserver 6 on the sheet P in the non-erasable mode in which non-erasabletoner is used.

In ACT147, if the file application is other than “PPT” (No in ACT147),the control unit 61 of the server 6 proceeds to ACT151. In ACT148, ifcheck box 133 is checked (Yes in ACT148), control unit 61 of the server6 transmits the enforced Eco print message 74 illustrated in FIG. 6 tothe PC 2 (ACT152) and proceeds to ACT153. In the PC 2, if the “NO”button 76 on the enforced Eco print message 74 is pressed (No inACT153), the control unit 61 of the server 6 proceeds to ACT150. Thenon-erasable MFP 3 prints the print data on the sheet P in thenon-erasable mode in which the non-erasable toner is used.

In the PC 2, when the “YES” button 77 of the enforced Eco print message74 is pressed (Yes in ACT153), the control unit 61 of the server 6proceeds to ACT151. In ACT151, the control unit 61 of the server 6transmits the print data to the erasable MFP 4. The erasable MFP 4prints the print data received from the server 6 on the sheet P in theerasable mode in which erasable toner is used.

After finishing the printing process, the control unit 61 of the server6, for example, records the user code, the print date, and the printingmode used, i.e., whether printing was performed in the non-erasable modeor the erasable mode. The recorded information is stored on the printrecord 98 of the “document registration list” 95.

A flow chart detailing a printing process which does not require thedocument registration is illustrated in FIG. 17. The user sets theprinting on the printer driver screen 70 illustrated in FIG. 5 in thefirst embodiment after the document creation and when the Eco printingis designated. The user starts the printing process by operating theenforced Eco print message 74 in FIG. 6. By starting the printingprocess, the control unit 61 of the server 6 receives the print datafrom the PC 2 (ACT155). Then, the control unit 61 of the server 6performs the printing process according to the flow chart subsequent toACT144 in FIG. 16 in which the determination is made of whether theproperty information 71 of the print data corresponds to theregistration in the printing policy items 80 in FIG. 10 or not.

According to the second embodiment, the image forming system 10 includesthe document registration function which saves the document data in thedocument storage section 62 a and saves the property information 97 inthe “document registration list” 95 in the table storage section 62 b.The administrator saves the printing policy items 80 as a determinationcondition in the printing policy storage section 62 c of the server 6and thereby sets the printing policy of the image forming system 10.When the user instructs printing of the registered document data, theserver 6 compares the property information 97 in the “documentregistration list” 95 to the printing policy items 80 and selects eitherthe non-erasable MFP 3 or the erasable MFP 4. The server 6 transmits theprint data to the non-erasable MFP 3 or the erasable MFP 4 based on theselection result and performs printing. The user can set the enforcedEco printing from the enforced Eco print message 74 similarly to thefirst embodiment. Similarly, when printing print data which does notrequire document registration, the server 6 compares the propertyinformation 71 of the print data to the printing policy items 80 andselects either the non-erasable MFP 3 or the erasable MFP 4.

According to the second embodiment, the image forming system 10 does notrely on the user in setting the printing mode of the print data requiredto be printed, similar to the first embodiment. For any document datawhich is registered or for any print data which is not required to beregistered, the server 6 determines the printing mode according to theprinting policy items 80. The printing policy items 80 set in the server6 by the administrator, and printing in the erasable mode can beautomatically promoted. By promoting the printing in the erasable modeaccording to the printing policy items 80 set by the administrator, thepercentage of reusing the sheets P can be increased. Therefore, it ispossible to save the consumables and to contribute to environmentalpreservation. The printing policy of the image forming system 10 can beeasily changed by rewriting the printing policy items 80 by theadministrator of the image forming system 10. Therefore, according tothe second embodiment, the saving of the consumables and theenvironmental preservation can be obtained according to the requirementsof the administrator.

Third Embodiment

The image forming system in the third embodiment will be described withreference to FIG. 18. In the third embodiment, the image forming systemas described in the second embodiment further includes a printing policywith a plurality of levels stored in advance. In the third embodiment,the printing policy desired by the administrator is set from theplurality of printing policies. In the third embodiment, theconfiguration similar to that described in the second embodiment will bereferenced by similar reference numerals and detailed descriptions willnot be repeated.

The printing policy storage section 62 c, for example, includes theprinting policy items 150 illustrated in FIG. 18. The printing policyitems 150 include three printing policies having different levelsrespectively: a printing policy 1, a printing policy 2 and a printingpolicy 3. The printing policy items 150 include a document distributiondestination 150 a, a document type 150 b, a frequency of theconfidentiality keywords 150 c and a file application 150 d as theprohibition items. The confidentiality keywords 150 c—from which thefrequency of confidentiality keywords is determined—are “secret”,“confidential”, “internal use only” and “duplication prohibited” asillustrated in FIG. 8.

Each printing policy 1, 2 and 3 has different items to be set in theprohibition items. The printing policy 1 has the most number ofdetermination items in the prohibition items, and is followed by theprinting policy 2 and the printing policy 3 (in that order). Theprinting policy 3 has the least number of determination items in theprohibition items.

During the setting up of the image forming system 10, when theadministrator sets the printing policy 1 of the printing policy items150, the percentage of printing in the non-erasable mode by thenon-erasable MFP 3 is increased. In case of the printing policy 1 in theimage forming system 10, the printing in the erasable mode is decreased.Therefore, the environmental contribution by saving resources isdecreased.

During the setting up of the image forming system 10, when theadministrator sets the printing policy 2 and the printing policy 3 ofthe printing policy items 150, the percentage of printing in thenon-erasable mode by the non-erasable MFP 3 is decreased sequentially.In cases of the printing policy 2 and the printing policy 3 in the imageforming system. 10, the printing in the erasable mode is increasedsequentially. Therefore, the environmental contribution by savingresources is increased.

During the setting up of the image forming system 10, the administratorof the image forming system 10, for example, sets any of the printingpolicy 1, the printing policy 2 or the printing policy 3 according tothe security level required by the administrator.

When the security level required by the administrator is high, theadministrator sets the printing policy 1 as the printing policy of theimage forming system 10. In accordance with the decrease of the securitylevel required by the administrator, the administrator sets the printingpolicy 2 or the printing policy 3 as the printing policy of the imageforming system 10.

The administrator can change the level of the printing policy byoperating the printing policy storage section 62 c. The administratorsets the printing policy 3 as the printing policy of the image formingsystem 10, for example, when the administrator wants to give priority toincreasing the environmental contribution. The administrator sets theprinting policy 1 as the printing policy of the image forming system 10,for example, when the administrator wants to give priority to increasingthe security.

In the third embodiment, when there is a request for printing from theuser, the printing process is performed using the printing policy levelset by the administrator. The flow chart for the printing process in thethird embodiment is the same as the flow chart in the second embodimentillustrated in FIG. 16 or FIG. 17 except the different determinationcriteria in ACT144 to ACT147. In the third embodiment, the determinationcriteria in ACT144 to ACT147 are different depending on which of theprinting policy 1, the printing policy 2 or the printing policy 3 is setas the printing policy of the image forming system 10. Moreover, thenumber of levels of the printing policy is flexible and many levels maybe included according to the applications, and the prohibition itemsalso may not be limited. Furthermore, in setting the printing policylevel, the criteria may be set from the perspective of the printing costrather than the security level.

According to the third embodiment, the image forming system 10 includesthe printing policy 1, the printing policy 2 and printing policy 3having different levels, in the table storage section 62 b. During thesetting up of the image forming system 10, the administrator selects andsets the required printing policy from the plurality of printingpolicies in the table storage section 62 b.

According to the third embodiment, similar to the second embodiment, theimage forming system 10 does not rely on the user's determination insetting the printing mode of document data required to be printed. Inthe image forming system 10, the server 6 determines the printing modeaccording to the printing policy level set by the administrator from theprinting policy items 150. According to the printing policy with thelevel set in the server 6 by the administrator, the printing in theerasable mode can be automatically promoted. By promoting the printingin the erasable mode according to the printing policy with the level setby the administrator, the percentage of reusing the sheets P can beincreased. Therefore, it is possible to save consumables and tocontribute to environmental preservation. The printing policy level ofthe image forming system 10 can be easily changed by the administratorby selecting from the printing policy items 150. Also, by changing thelevel of the printing policies according to the intended use of thedocument data, the percentage of the printing in the erasable mode canbe changed. Therefore, the purpose of using the printer is satisfied andthe contribution to environmental preservation can be achieved.

According to at least one embodiment described above, the printing modeof the document data required to be printed is determined according tothe printing policy of the image forming system. By automaticallypromoting printing in the erasable mode, it is possible to save theconsumables and contribute to the environmental preservation.

Not limited to the image forming system in at least one of theembodiments described above, the system may include any optional devicesuch as an erasing device which erases the printed image or a storagedevice in which the erased print image data is saved.

While certain embodiments have been described, these embodiments havebeen presented by way of example only, and are not intended to limit thescope of the inventions. Indeed, the novel embodiments described hereinmay be embodied in a variety of other forms; furthermore, variousomissions, substitutions and changes in the form of the embodimentsdescribed herein may be made without departing from the spirit of theinventions. The accompanying claims and their equivalents are intendedto cover such forms or modifications as would fall within the scope andspirit of the inventions.

What is claimed is:
 1. A server for controlling an image forming system,comprising: a network interface configured to receive, from a userdevice, document data and user instructions to print the document data;a storage section configured to store the document data; and acontroller configured to: determine a registered printing mode of thedocument data based on property information included in the documentdata, select, for printing the document data, only one of a non-erasableimage forming apparatus and an erasable image forming apparatus based onthe determined registered printing mode and a requested printing modeindicated in the user instructions, if the registered printing mode isdetermined to be a non-erasable printing mode and the requested printingmode is an erasable printing mode, control a display device to display ascreen for confirming the erasable printing mode, an input from a uservia the screen being required before the controller selects the erasableimage forming apparatus for printing the document data, and control theinterface to transmit the document data to the selected one of thenon-erasable image forming apparatus and the erasable image formingapparatus for printing.
 2. The server according to claim 1, wherein: thecontroller is further configured to receive an input to set adetermination condition prior to receiving the document data, and theprinting mode is determined by comparing the property information withthe set determination condition.
 3. The server forming system accordingto claim 2, wherein the determination condition set prior to receivingthe document data can be changed.
 4. The server according to claim 3,wherein the controller sets the determination condition as one of aplurality of predetermined levels of determination conditions.
 5. Theserver according to claim 1, wherein the controller is furtherconfigured to register the document data by storing the propertyinformation in a document registration list.
 6. The server according toclaim 1, wherein the property information includes a frequency of presetconfidentiality keywords.
 7. An image forming method, comprising:receiving, from a user device, document data and user instructions toprint the document data; determining a registered printing mode based onproperty information of the document data; selecting, for printing thedocument data, only one of a non-erasable image forming apparatus and anerasable image forming apparatus based on the determined registeredprinting mode and a requested printing mode indicated in the userinstructions; if the registered printing mode is determined to be anon-erasable printing mode and the requested printing mode is determinedto be an erasable printing mode, displaying, on a display device, ascreen for confirming the erasable printing mode, an input from a uservia the screen being required before the erasable image formingapparatus is selected for printing the document data; and transmittingthe document data to the selected one of the non-erasable image formingapparatus and the erasable image forming apparatus for printing.
 8. Themethod according to claim 7, further comprising: receiving an input toset a determination condition prior to receiving the document data,wherein determining the printing mode includes comparing the propertyinformation with the set determination condition.
 9. The methodaccording to claim 7, further comprising: registering the document databy storing the property information in a document registration list. 10.The method according to claim 7, wherein the property informationincludes a frequency of preset confidentiality keywords.
 11. An imageforming system, comprising: a control section configured to receive,from a user device, document data and user instructions to print thedocument data; a printing mode determination section configured todetermine a registered printing mode of the document data based onproperty information of the document data; a selection sectionconfigured to select for printing the document data only one of anon-erasable image forming apparatus and an erasable image formingapparatus based on the determined registered printing mode and arequested printing mode indicated in the user instructions; and adisplay that displays a screen for confirming the erasable printing modeif the registered printing mode is determined to be a non-erasableprinting mode and the requested printing mode is determined to be anerasable printing mode, an input from a user via the screen beingrequired before the selection section selects the erasable image formingapparatus for printing the document data.
 12. The image forming systemaccording to claim 11, wherein: the printing mode determination sectionincludes a setting section configured to receive an input to set adetermination condition prior to receiving the document data, and theprinting mode determination section determines the printing mode bycomparing the property information with the set determination condition.13. The image forming system according to claim 12, wherein thepreviously set determination condition can be changed.
 14. The imageforming system according to claim 13, wherein the setting section setsthe determination condition as one of a plurality of predeterminedlevels each having predefined determination conditions.
 15. The systemaccording to claim 11, further comprising: a registration sectionconfigured to register the document data by storing the propertyinformation in a document registration list.
 16. The system according toclaim 11, wherein the property information includes a frequency ofpreset confidentiality keywords.
 17. The system according to claim 11,wherein the property information of the document data includes adocument name, a file application, a document distribution destination,a document type, a number of pages, a registrant code, and a frequencyof preset confidentiality keywords.